TheCaeracates (Gaulish: *Caeracatis, 'the shepherds' or 'sheep-folk') were small tribe dwelling inGallia Belgica during theRoman period. Like theAresaces, they were probably a sub-tribe (pagus) of the largerTreveri, since they were too small to form their owncivitas.[1][2]
They are mentioned byTacitus (early 2nd c. AD) asCaeracatium andCaeracatibus.[3]
TheethnonymCaeracates is a latinized form ofGaulish *Caeracatis. It derives from a stem*caerac-, meaning 'ewe' or a similar animal (cf.Old Irishgen.caerach 'ewe',Welshcaeriwrch 'roe deer'), attached to the suffix-atis ('belonging to'). It thus means 'those of the sheep', that is to say 'the shepherds' or 'sheep-folk'.Caeracates iscognate with other Celtic tribal names such as theBelgicCaeroesi, theBrittonicCaereni, and thePictishKairênoi (Καιρηνοί).[4][5][6]
Tacitus mentioned them in his account of theBatavian revolt of 69–70 AD. They were called up, along with theVangiones and theTriboci, to reinforce aTreveran force:
Tutor first added to the Treviran troops a fresh levy of Vangiones, Caeracates, and Triboci, and then reinforced these with veteran foot and horse, drawn from the legionaries whom he had either corrupted by hope or overcome with fear; these forces first massacred a cohort despatched in advance by Sextilius Felix; then, when the Roman generals and armies began to draw near, they returned to their allegiance by an honourable desertion, followed by the Triboci, Vangiones, and Caeracates.
— Tacitus 1925,Historiae, 4:70.
